Animal enclosure with dual door assembly

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure provides an animal enclosure including a plurality of members defining an interior of the enclosure. One of the plurality of members includes a first member having a frame structure and door assembly formed by a plurality of interconnected horizontal and vertical wires. At least two of the horizontal wires of the frame structure form a hook positioned inside the defined opening. The door assembly is coupled to the frame and moves between an open and closed positions. The door assembly includes a first door and a second door removably coupled to one another. The enclosure also includes a latch assembly for releasing the door assembly from the frame structure. In the closed position, at least one horizontal wire of the first door and at least one horizontal wire of the second door are coupled to the hooks formed by the at least two horizontal wires of the frame structure.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an animal enclosure, and in particularto an enclosure having a dual door assembly.

BACKGROUND

The use of animal cage is well known in the prior art. Many conventionalcages have been developed over the years for housing animals ofdifferent sizes, and through the development of these cages flexibilityand portability have become points of emphasis. Some conventional cages,for example, have been designed to collapse to a compact position forportability. Others have been designed of light weight and from durablematerials. Conventional cages have been designed for ease oftransporting an animal. Some conventional cages are designed as exercisepens that provide an interior space that the animal can move about,particularly outdoors.

Most conventional cages include at least one door for providing accessto the interior of the cage. An animal can enter or exit the cagethrough the opening when the door is opened, and the animal can besafely contained in the cage when the door is closed. Many conventionalcages include a door that is attached to the cage via a hinge. Thisallows the door to be swung open and closed. A variety of latches havebeen incorporated into the design of the door to allow a user to open orsecurely lock the door.

Many of these conventional designs have limitations, however. Withregards to an exercise pen, for example, the door is generally formed byan entire height and width of a panel or side member of the pen. Many ofthese doors are not able to be securely latched or may not prevent ananimal from escaping therefrom. In addition, due to the size of thedoor, it can be difficult for an owner to reach into the interior of theexercise pen and retrieve a desired animal when two or more animals areenclosed therein.

Therefore, a need exists for an improved animal enclosure that can becollapsible, portable, and provides better means for accessing theinterior of the enclosure which overcomes some of the above-mentionedlimitations in the prior art.

SUMMARY

In one exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, an animalenclosure is provided. The enclosure includes a plurality of membersdefining an interior of the enclosure, where the plurality of membersincludes at least a first member. A frame structure of the first memberhas a plurality of interconnected horizontal and vertical wires thatdefine an opening for an animal to pass therethrough and enter or exitthe interior of the enclosure. At least two of the horizontal wires ofthe frame structure form a hook positioned inside the defined opening.The enclosure also includes a door assembly of the first member having aplurality of interconnected horizontal and vertical wires and beingcoupled to the frame structure. The door assembly is pivotable about andslideable along a vertical pivot wire of the frame structure to movebetween an open position and a closed position, where the door assemblyincludes a first door and a second door removably coupled to oneanother. A latch assembly is also provided and includes a first end, asecond end, and a substantially U-shaped structure therebetween, wherethe first end and second end are pivotally coupled to a horizontal wireof the door assembly. In the closed position, at least one horizontalwire of the first door and at least one horizontal wire of the seconddoor are coupled to the hooks formed by the at least two horizontalwires of the frame structure.

In one aspect, the latch assembly is formed by a single wire. In anotheraspect, the first end and second end of the latch assembly are bent todefine an opening for receiving the horizontal wire of the doorassembly. In a further aspect, a horizontal wire of the frame structureis disposed in the opening defined in the second end of the latchassembly in the closed position. In a different embodiment, a firstmechanism is integrally coupled to the first door and a second mechanismis integrally coupled to the second door. Here, when the first door andsecond door are coupled to one another, the first mechanism is disposedin contact with the second door and the second mechanism is disposed incontact with the first door.

The animal enclosure may also include a vertical wire of the first doorhaving a hooked end that overlaps and contacts a portion of the firstdoor in the closed position. In yet another aspect, the enclosureincludes a clip coupled to the second door. The clip can be integrallyformed by a vertical wire of the second door. Moreover, a horizontalwire of the first door can be removably coupled to the clip when thefirst door and second door are coupled to one another.

In another embodiment, a side member is provided for an exercise pen foraccommodating an animal. The side member includes a frame structurehaving a plurality of interconnected horizontal and vertical wires thatdefine an opening for an animal to pass therethrough and enter or exitthe exercise pen. The frame structure includes an outer frame wire, avertical pivot wire, and a first horizontal wire. The side member alsoincludes a door assembly having a plurality of interconnected horizontaland vertical wires and being coupled to the frame structure. The doorassembly is pivotable about and slideable along the vertical pivot wireto move between an open position and a closed position. The doorassembly includes a first door and a second door removably coupled toone another. The side member further includes a latch assembly having afirst end, a second end, and a handle portion therebetween, where thefirst end and second end are pivotally coupled to a horizontal wire ofthe door assembly. The first end and second end of the latch assemblyare bent to define an opening for receiving the horizontal wire of thedoor assembly and, in the closed position, the first horizontal wire ofthe frame structure is disposed in the opening defined in the second endof the latch assembly.

In one aspect of this embodiment, the latch assembly is formed by asingle wire. In another aspect, at least two of the horizontal wires ofthe frame structure each form a hook. Each hook can be positioned insidethe defined opening. Moreover, in the closed position, at least onehorizontal wire of the first door and at least one horizontal wire ofthe second door are coupled to the hooks formed by the at least twohorizontal wires of the frame structure.

In a different aspect, a first mechanism is integrally coupled to thefirst door and a second mechanism is integrally coupled to the seconddoor. Here, when the first door and second door are coupled to oneanother, the first mechanism is disposed in contact with the second doorand the second mechanism is disposed in contact with the first door. Inaddition, a vertical wire of the first door can have a hooked end thatoverlaps and contacts a portion of the first door in the closedposition. In a further aspect, a vertical wire of the second door hasone end bent downwardly to form a clip. The vertical wire is coupled toan upper-most horizontal wire of the second door. A bottom-mosthorizontal wire of the first door can be removably coupled to the clipwhen the first door and second door are coupled to one another.

In a different embodiment of the present disclosure, a door assembly isprovided for an exercise pen for accommodating an animal. The doorassembly includes a frame structure having a plurality of interconnectedhorizontal and vertical wires that define an opening for an animal topass therethrough. The frame structure includes a vertical pivot wireand at least two of the horizontal wires form an upright hook disposedinside the defined opening. The door assembly also includes a first doorhaving a plurality of interconnected horizontal and vertical wires. Eachof the plurality of horizontal wires includes a curled end that definesan opening for receiving the vertical pivot wire such that the firstdoor is pivotable about and vertically slideable about the verticalpivot wire. The door assembly further includes a second door having aplurality of interconnected horizontal and vertical wires. Each of theplurality of horizontal wires includes a curled end that defines anopening for receiving the vertical pivot wire such that the second dooris pivotable about and vertically slideable about the vertical pivotwire. At least one horizontal wire of the first door and at least onehorizontal wire of the second door are coupled to the upright hooksformed by the at least two horizontal wires of the frame structure.

In one aspect of this embodiment, the door assembly includes a verticalwire of the first door having a hooked end that overlaps and contacts aportion of the first door in the closed position. In another aspect, avertical wire of the second door has one end bent downwardly to form aclip. The clip engages a horizontal wire of the first door when thefirst door and second door are coupled to one another.

In a different aspect, the door assembly can be configured in a firstconfiguration and a second configuration. In the first configuration,the first door and second door are engaged to one another such that avertical wire of the first door is disposed in an opening definedbetween a transverse loop wire and the second door; a vertical wire ofthe second door has a bent end forming a downwardly facing clip, wherethe clip engages a horizontal wire of the first door; and the first doorand second door are moveable about the vertical pivot wire of the framestructure in a substantially concomitant relationship to one another. Inthe second configuration, the first door and second door are disengagedfrom one another such the vertical wire of the first door is removedfrom the opening defined between the transverse loop wire and the seconddoor; the horizontal wire of the first door is disengaged from the clip;and the first door and second door are moveable relative to one anotherabout the vertical pivot wire.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above-mentioned aspects of the present invention and the manner ofobtaining them will become more apparent and the invention itself willbe better understood by reference to the following description of theembodiments of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an animal enclosure;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a door frame and door assembly of theanimal enclosure of FIG. 1 in a closed position;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the door frame and door assembly of FIG.2 with a latch in a partially open position;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial perspective view of a clip for coupling afirst door and second door of the door assembly of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the door assembly of FIG. 2 in an openposition;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the first door of the door assembly inan open position and the second door in a closed position;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged partial perspective view of the clip; and

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the latch of FIG. 3.

Corresponding reference numerals are used to indicate correspondingparts throughout the several views.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The embodiments of the present invention described below are notintended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise formsdisclosed in the following detailed description. Rather, the embodimentsare chosen and described so that others skilled in the art mayappreciate and understand the principles and practices of the presentinvention.

The present invention relates to a collapsible animal enclosure. Theanimal enclosure can be used for multiple purposes, such as to containan animal or another object. The enclosure can be made of any size foraccommodating an object of any size. In addition, the enclosure can bemade of different materials including aluminum, plastic, and steel. Theenclosure can be designed as an animal crate for defining an interiorthat is surrounded at all sides, or it can be designed as an exercisepen in which at least one side is uncovered.

Referring to FIG. 1, an exemplary embodiment of an animal enclosure 100is shown. The enclosure 100 is in the form of an exercise pen, but thisis only intended to be exemplary. The enclosure 100 can be formed ofsubstantially horizontal and vertical wires that overlap one another todefine an interior portion 118. One or more of the horizontal wires canbe coupled to one or more of the vertical wires, and vice versa, to addstructural integrity to the enclosure 100. For instance, the wires maybe welded, adhered, fastened, or coupled to one another through avariety of means. The enclosure 100 can include a plurality of sides ormembers that form the enclosure 100.

In FIG. 1, for example, the enclosure includes a first member 102, asecond member 104, a third member 106, a fourth member 108, a fifthmember 110, a sixth member 112, a seventh member 114, and an eighthmember 116. Each individual member can be coupled to an adjacent membervia a fastener, clip, latch, or other means. For instance, in FIG. 1,each member is coupled to an adjacent member by use of one or moreclips. Vertical wires of the respective member can be rotatably disposedwithin the clip to allow the enclosure, of any number of sides, to beconfigured in a desired manner. While the illustrated embodiment depictseight sides, other embodiments may include any number of sides. In thismanner, a user may assemble the enclosure to any desired shape based onthe size of the animal, object, etc. being contained therein.

With respect to the enclosure 100, the first member 102 is shown havinga door assembly 120. The door assembly 120 can be coupled to a framedefined by the first member 102 such that the door assembly 120 can beconfigured between an open position and a closed position. For instance,the door assembly 120 can be pivotally coupled to the frame so that thedoor assembly 120 can pivot between said positions. Moreover, othermembers can include a door assembly. Although only one door assembly 120is shown in FIG. 1, in other embodiments there can be two or more doorassemblies for accessing the interior 118 of the enclosure 100.

Referring to FIGS. 2-9, the first member 102 and its door assembly 120is shown in greater detail. The door assembly 120 can be formed as asingle or dual door assembly. In FIG. 2, the door assembly 120 includesa first door 200 and a second door 202. Here, the first door 200 andsecond door 202 can be moved between a closed position (e.g., FIG. 2)and a substantially open position (e.g., FIG. 6). Moreover, one of thefirst door 200 and second door 202 can be moved between the openposition and closed position relative to the other door (e.g., FIG. 7).

The first door 200 can include a handle or latch assembly 204 forreleasably engaging with the first member 102. The latch assembly 204can be disposed in an engaged position (e.g., FIG. 2) with a firsthorizontal wire 206 of the first member 102. To open the first door 200or the door assembly 120, the latch assembly 204 can be moved alongdirection 300 to an unlatched or disengaged position (e.g., FIG. 3).

Referring to FIG. 8, the latch assembly 204 can include a handle portion900. The entire latch assembly 204 can be formed by a single wire, forexample, or two or more wires may be coupled to one another to form theassembly 204. In FIG. 9, the handle portion 900 is formed as asubstantially U-shaped member. The latch assembly 204 can include afirst end 904 and a second end 906. The first end 904 can be bent,deformed, or curled in such a way so as to define an opening 902therein. Likewise, the second end 906 can be bent, deformed, or curledto define an opening 908 therein. Each of the first and second ends canbe bent, deformed, or curled to form three substantially 180° curves,where the middle curve defines the respective opening 902, 908. As shownin FIG. 2, in the engaged or latched position (e.g., with the doorassembly 120 in a closed position), the latch assembly 204 engages thefirst member 102. In particular, the first horizontal wire 206 can bedisposed in the opening 902 defined in the first end 904 of the latchassembly 204. As such, the door assembly 120 or the first door 200cannot be moved along direction 600 or 702, respectively, unless thelatch assembly 204 is disengaged from the first horizontal wire 206.

As shown in FIG. 3, the latch assembly 204 can be disengaged orunlatched from the first horizontal wire 206 by moving the handleportion 900 along direction 300. In doing so, the latch assembly 204 ispivotally coupled to a horizontal latch wire 244 disposed on the firstdoor 200. The horizontal latch wire 244 can be any horizontally-disposedwire on the door 200 that allows the latch assembly 204 to freely pivotthereabout along direction 300. The latch assembly 204, and inparticular the first end 904 and second 906, can define sized openings910, 912 respectively for receiving the horizontal latch wire 244. Inaddition, the formation (or bend) of the first end 904 and second end906 can be such that the latch assembly 204 cannot be easily removedfrom its pivotal coupling with the horizontal latch wire 244. Thus, thelatch assembly 204 can pivot relative to the horizontal latch wire 244and allow the door assembly 120 or first door 200 to move between theopen and closed positions.

To further understand the manner in which the door assembly 120, and inparticular the latch assembly 204, engages the first member 102, thefirst member 102 can define a door frame. In doing so, the first member102 can include a first frame portion 248, a second frame portion 250,and a base portion 252. The first frame portion 248, second frameportion 250, and base portion 252 can be integrally coupled or formedfrom the plurality of overlapping horizontal and vertical wires thatform the first member 102. The first frame portion 248 and second frameportion 250 can be substantially upright and are disposed on each sideof the door assembly 120. The base portion 252 can be disposedsubstantially below the door assembly 120.

In the closed position, the door assembly 120 can include a definedwidth that partially overlaps the second frame portion 250 of the firstmember 102. For instance, in FIG. 2, the door assembly 120 can includean overlap portion 254 that substantially overlaps the second frameportion 250. As such, the first end 904 of the latch assembly 204 ispivotally coupled to the horizontal latch wire 244 at a locationdisposed in the overlap portion 254 of the door assembly 120. In thisarrangement, the first horizontal wire 206 has a defined length in whichat least a portion of that defined length can be engaged by the firstend 904 of the latch assembly 204 in the latched position.

To facilitate the pivotal movement of the door assembly 120 between theopen and closed positions, the first member 102 can include asubstantially vertical pivot wire 218. The pivot wire 218 extendslongitudinally from a first end 256 disposed in the base portion 252 toa second end 258 disposed in the first frame portion 248. The first end256 of the pivot wire 218 is coupled to an outer frame wire 246 thatdefines the outer edges of the first frame portion 248, second frameportion 250, and base portion 252. The pivot wire 218 can be welded,adhered, fastened or coupled in any other manner to the outer frame wire246.

As shown in FIG. 2, the door assembly 120 can be coupled to the pivotwire 218 via a plurality of horizontal wires on the door assembly 120engaging the wire 218. For instance, each of the horizontal wires thatform the door assembly 120 can include hooked ends that are pivotallycoupled to the pivot wire 218. In FIG. 2, the first door 200 can includea first horizontal wire 214 having a first hooked end 216, a secondhorizontal wire 212 having a second hooked end 222, a third horizontalwire 224 having a third hooked end 232, and the horizontal latch wire244 having a fourth hooked end 220. The second door 202 also includes aplurality of horizontal wires 228 having hooked ends. For instance, thesecond door 202 can include a first horizontal wire 242 having a firsthooked end 230 and the remaining horizontal wires 228 having hooked ends234, 236, 238 and 240. Each of the hooked ends on the first door 200 andsecond door 202 can also move substantially vertically along the pivotwire 218 to allow both doors to move vertically relative to the firstmember 102 and between the open and closed positions.

By enabling the first door 200 and second door 202 to move substantiallyvertically along the pivot wire 218, one or both doors can be movedbetween the open and closed positions. In the illustrated embodiment,the doors would not be able to open and close if such movement wasrestricted due to a plurality of hooks 210 formed on the ends of atleast two horizontal wires of the first member 102. As shown in FIGS. 2and 6, the second frame portion 250 of the first member 102 can includea plurality of horizontal frame wires 208. Each of the horizontal framewires 208 can include a first end that couples to the outer frame wire246 and an opposite end that forms one of the plurality of hooks 210.

In the closed position of FIG. 2, the first horizontal wire 214 of thefirst door 200 can be removably coupled to the hook 210. Likewise, thesecond horizontal wire 212 and third horizontal wire 224 can beremovably coupled to respective hooks 210. The second door 202 can beremovably coupled to a plurality of hooks 210 in the closed position aswell. For instance, the first horizontal wire 242 and at least one ofthe plurality of horizontal wires 228 can engage respective hooks 210.The first horizontal wire 242 of the second door 202 and the thirdhorizontal wire 224 of the first door 200 can be removably coupled tothe same hook 210, as shown in FIG. 2. Each of the plurality of hooks210 can be oriented either upwards or downwards to engage horizontalwires on the first door 200 and second door 202. Thus, in theillustrated embodiment of FIG. 2, the first member 102 provides a firstmeans for securing the door assembly 120 thereto, i.e., via theplurality of hooks 210, and the door assembly 120 provides a secondmeans for securing the door assembly 120 to the first member 102, i.e.,via the first end 904 of the latch assembly 204 engaging the firsthorizontal wire 206 of the first member 102.

In addition, each of the plurality of hooks 210 can be disposed inwardlyfrom an interior side 608 (FIG. 5) of the second frame portion 250. Asshown in FIG. 5, each of the plurality of hooks 210 therefore may bedisposed slightly offset from the interior side 608 and into the definedopening 604. Moreover, each of the plurality of hooks 210 may extendoutwardly in a direction away from the interior of the enclosure 100. Inthis manner, to close the door assembly 120, the first door 200 andsecond door 202 can be pivoted along direction 602 towards the closedposition (e.g., FIG. 2). As the door assembly 120 approaches the closedposition, each of the first door 200 and second door 202 can be liftedsuch that both door slide vertically along the pivot wire 218 and atleast one horizontal wire of the first door 200 and at least onehorizontal wire of the second door 202 can be disposed in an openingformed by at least two of the hooks 210.

Referring now to FIGS. 2-7, the door assembly 120 can include one ormore mechanisms for removably coupling the first door 200 and seconddoor 202 to one another. In FIGS. 2, 4 and 7, for example, the seconddoor 202 can include a vertical wire 400 that forms a clip 226 at oneend thereof. The wire 400 can be coupled to the first horizontal wire242 of the second door 202 via welding, adhesive, a fastener, or otherknown means. Alternatively, the wire 400 may only be coupled to one ormore of the plurality of horizontal wires 228 that form part of thesecond door 202. In any event, the clip 226 can define an opening 800(FIG. 7) therein for receiving the third horizontal wire 224 of thefirst door 200 in the closed position. As such, the third horizontalwire 224 can be removably coupled to the clip 226. If it is desired tomove only the first door 200 to a partially open position 700 as shownin FIG. 6, the third horizontal wire 224 is disengaged or decoupled fromthe clip 226 before the first door 200 can be moved along direction 702towards the partially open position 700.

For purposes of this disclosure, the partially open position refers tothe door assembly 120 being in a partially open position due to thesecond door 202 being disposed in the closed position. In FIG. 5, on theother hand, both the first door 200 and second door 202 are shown in anopen position and thus it is referred to in this disclosure as theembodiment of FIG. 5 being the open position. This is not intended tosuggest that the first door 200 is not or cannot reach a fully openposition, but rather only distinguishes the embodiments of FIGS. 5 and 6with reference to the door assembly 120 in its entirety.

Moreover, with regards to FIG. 5, when the entire door assembly 120 isthe open position, an access opening 604 is defined by interior wires oredges of the first member 102. For example, the size of the opening 604can be defined along an interior side 606 of the first frame portion248, an interior side 608 of the second frame portion 250, and aninterior side 610 of the base portion 252. In this manner, an animal canenter through the defined opening 604 as the door assembly 120 is movedalong direction 602.

With regards to FIG. 6, a smaller or partial opening 704 is defined andaccessible when the first door 200 is moved along direction 702. Here,the partial opening 704 is defined along an interior side 706 of thefirst frame portion 248, an interior side 708 of the second frameportion 250, and an interior side 710 of the second door 202, and inparticular the first horizontal wire 242.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 6, another mechanism is provided for securingthe first door 200 and second door 202 to one another in the closedposition. More particularly, this additional mechanism can prevent ananimal from moving the first door 200 relative to the second door 202when both doors are coupled to one another or in the closed position.Here, the first door 200 can include a vertical wire 270 that has afirst end coupled to the first horizontal wire 214 and a second end thatforms a hook end 500. In the closed position of FIG. 2, for example, thefirst door 200 and second door 202 can be coupled to one another via theclip 226. To add further support and rigidity to the door assembly 120,however, the hook end 500 can be in contact with first horizontal wire242 of the second door 202.

In a related aspect, the second door 202 can include a transverse,substantially U-shaped loop (not shown) that is formed by a wire coupledto the first horizontal wire 242 of the second door 202. The transversewire can be coupled to the plurality of horizontal wires 228 of thesecond door 202. In this aspect, the transverse wire can define aninterior space or opening (not shown) between the transverse wire andthe first horizontal wire 242, such that in the closed position of FIG.2, the hook end 500 of vertical wire 270 is movably disposed in thespace or opening defined between the second door 202 and transversewire. The transverse loop may also take the form of a hook, latch, clip,or other coupling mechanism for engaging the hook end 500.

The enclosure of FIG. 1 can be collapsed to a compact or storedposition. To do so, clips or fasteners can be used for coupling each ofthe members to one another in the assembled position (FIG. 1). Byremoving the clips or fasteners, the enclosure can be folded like anaccordion to a compact position. In another aspect, each of the membersmay be hingedly or pivotally coupled to adjacent members and the entireenclosure can be folded or collapsed in an accordion-like manner.

While exemplary embodiments incorporating the principles of the presentinvention have been disclosed hereinabove, the present invention is notlimited to the disclosed embodiments. Instead, this application isintended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the inventionusing its general principles. Further, this application is intended tocover such departures from the present disclosure as come within knownor customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains andwhich fall within the limits of the appended claims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. An animal enclosure, comprising: aplurality of members defining an interior of the enclosure, where theplurality of members includes at least a first member; a frame structureof the first member having a plurality of interconnected horizontal andvertical wires that define an opening for an animal to pass therethroughand enter or exit the interior of the enclosure, where two of theplurality of horizontal wires of the frame structure are configured toeach respectively form a first hook and a second hook each positionedinside the defined opening; a door assembly of the first member having aplurality of interconnected horizontal and vertical wires and beingcoupled to the frame structure, the door assembly being pivotable aboutand vertically slidable along a vertical pivot wire of the framestructure to move between an open position and a closed position, wherethe door assembly includes a first door configured to move between theopen and closed position and a second door configured to move betweenthe open and closed position, wherein the first door and the second doorare removably coupled to one another; and a latch assembly having afirst end, a second end, and a substantially U-shaped structuretherebetween, where the first end and second end are pivotably coupledto a horizontal wire of the door assembly; wherein, in the closedposition, at least one of the plurality of horizontal wires of the firstdoor is disposed within the first hook and at least one of the pluralityof horizontal wires of the second door is disposed within the secondhook to restrict the door from pivoting to the open position and furtherwherein upon vertical slidable movement of the door assembly along thevertical pivot wire, the at least one horizontal wire of the first dooris no longer disposed within the first hook and the at least onehorizontal wire of the second door is no longer disposed within thesecond hook to enable pivotable movement of the door assembly about thevertical pivot wire; and wherein the at least one horizontal wire of thefirst door and the at least one horizontal wire of the second door eachhave a proximal end that partially overlaps a vertical wire of the framestructure and a distal end that includes a hooked portion that at leastpartially wraps around the vertical pivot wire, wherein the proximal endof the at least one horizontal wire of the first door is substantiallyadjacent to the first hook and the proximal end of the at least onehorizontal wire of the second door is substantially adjacent to thesecond hook.
 2. The animal enclosure of claim 1, wherein the latchassembly is formed by a single wire.
 3. The animal enclosure of claim 1,wherein the first end and second end of the latch assembly are bent todefine an opening for receiving one of the plurality of the horizontalwires of the door assembly.
 4. The animal enclosure of claim 3, whereinin the closed position, one of the plurality of horizontal wires of theframe structure is disposed in another opening defined in the second endof the latch assembly.
 5. The animal enclosure of claim 3, wherein thesecond end of the latch assembly defines a second opening for receivingone of the plurality of horizontal wires of the frame structure, whereinin the closed position, the one of the plurality of horizontal wires ofthe frame structure is disposed in the second opening defined in thesecond end of the latch assembly.
 6. The animal enclosure of claim 1,further comprising a first mechanism integrally coupled to the firstdoor and a second mechanism integrally coupled to the second door,wherein when the first door and second door are coupled to one another,the first mechanism is disposed in contact with the second door and thesecond mechanism is disposed in contact with the first door.
 7. Theanimal enclosure of claim 1, further comprising a vertical wire of thefirst door having a hook end that overlaps and contacts a portion of thesecond door when the first door and the second door are in the closedposition.
 8. The animal enclosure of claim 1, further comprising a clipcoupled to the second door, the clip integrally formed by a verticalwire of the second door.
 9. The animal enclosure of claim 8, wherein ahorizontal wire of the first door is removably coupled to the clip whenthe first door and second door are coupled to one another.
 10. Theanimal enclosure of claim 1, wherein the door assembly is locatable at afirst position and a second position along the vertical pivot wire,wherein one of the first position and second position provides a coupledstate of one of the plurality of horizontal wires of the first door withthe first hook and the other of the first position and second positionprovides an uncoupled state of one of the plurality of horizontal wiresof the first door with the first hook.
 11. The animal enclosure of claim10, wherein the vertical pivot wire is interconnected with a firsthorizontal wire spaced from a second horizontal wire of the plurality ofinterconnected horizontal and vertical wires of the frame structure suchthat the first position is located at the first horizontal wire and thesecond position is located at the second horizontal wire.
 12. An animalenclosure, comprising: a plurality of members defining an interior ofthe enclosure, where the plurality of members includes at least a firstmember; a frame structure of the first member having a plurality ofinterconnected horizontal and vertical wires that define an opening foran animal to pass therethrough and enter or exit the interior of theenclosure, where two of the plurality of horizontal wires of the framestructure are configured to each respectively form a first hook and asecond hook each positioned inside the defined opening; a door assemblyof the first member having a plurality of interconnected horizontal andvertical wires and being coupled to the frame structure, the doorassembly being pivotable about and vertically slidable along a verticalpivot wire of the frame structure to move between an open position and aclosed position, where the door assembly includes a first doorconfigured to move between the open and closed position and a seconddoor configured to move between the open and closed position, whereinthe second door includes a downturned clip extending upward from ahorizontal wire of the second door such that a horizontal wire of thefirst door is removably coupled to the downturned clip for removablycoupling the first and second doors to one another; and a latch assemblyhaving a first end, a second end, and a substantially U-shaped structuretherebetween, where the first end and second end are pivotably coupledto a horizontal wire of the door assembly; wherein, in the closedposition, at least one of the plurality of horizontal wires of the firstdoor is disposed within the first hook and at least one of the pluralityof horizontal wires of the second door is disposed within the secondhook to restrict the door from pivoting to the open position and furtherwherein upon slidable movement of the door assembly along the verticalpivot wire, the at least one horizontal wire of the first door is nolonger disposed within the first hook and the at least one horizontalwire of the second door is no longer disposed within the second hook toenable pivotable movement of the door assembly about the vertical pivotwire; and wherein the at least one horizontal wire of the first door andthe at least one horizontal wire of the second door each have a proximalend that partially overlaps a vertical wire of the frame structure and adistal end that includes a hooked portion that at least partially wrapsaround the vertical pivot wire, wherein the proximal end of the at leastone horizontal wire of the first door is substantially adjacent to thefirst hook and the proximal end of the at least one horizontal wire ofthe second door is substantially adjacent to the second hook.
 13. Theanimal enclosure of claim 12, wherein the latch assembly is formed by asingle wire.
 14. The animal enclosure of claim 12, wherein the first endand second end of the latch assembly are bent to define an opening forreceiving one of the plurality of the horizontal wires of the doorassembly.
 15. The animal enclosure of claim 14, wherein in the closedposition, one of the plurality of horizontal wires of the framestructure is disposed in another opening defined in the second end ofthe latch assembly.
 16. The animal enclosure of claim 12, furthercomprising a first mechanism integrally coupled to the first door and asecond mechanism integrally coupled to the second door, wherein when thefirst door and second door are coupled to one another, the firstmechanism is disposed in contact with the second door and the secondmechanism is disposed in contact with the first door.
 17. The animalenclosure of claim 12, further comprising a vertical wire of the firstdoor having a hook end that overlaps and contacts a portion of thesecond door when the first door and the second door are in the closedposition.
 18. The animal enclosure of claim 12, further comprising aclip coupled to the second door, the clip integrally formed by avertical wire of the second door.
 19. The animal enclosure of claim 18,wherein a horizontal wire of the first door is removably coupled to theclip when the first door and second door are coupled to one another.